Friends, family recall soldier's selfless spirit Community, military pay final respects to Army paratrooper BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer Hundreds gathered last week to honor and pay final respects to U.S. Army Cpl. Steven R. Koch, 23, who gave his life to protect his country. JEFF GRANIT staff Family and friends follow as soldiers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division carry the casket of Cpl. Steven R. Koch out of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Milltown, following a funeral Mass on March 13. The many people whose lives were touched by the soldier remembered a courageous, giving and kind young man. "He was an outstanding young man from the time he was a little boy," said Tom Olsen, a longtime family friend. "It's a sad day for the whole community." The sidewalks surrounding Our Lady of Lourdes Church on North Main Street were lined with people March 13 as the funeral procession for the paratrooper made its way toward the church. Students from Our Lady of Lourdes School, where Koch once attended, waved American flags from the sidelines, and the Middlesex County Police and Fire Pipes and Drums band filled the crisp morning air with solemn sounds. Military colleagues stood at attention. The deceased soldier's family members followed the hearse at the end of the procession. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: Christine and William Koch, with daughter Lynne, watch as military colleagues of U.S. Army Cpl. Steven R. Koch place his casket into a hearse following a funeral Mass on March 13. The soldier was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery the following day. At left: Amy Koch, the wife of Cpl. Steven R. Koch, is escorted by Steven's brother, William Koch III, during the funeral procession along Cleveland Avenue to Our Lady of Lourdes. Soldiers fromthe 82ndAirborneDivision, withwhomKoch served, carried the flag-enrobed casket into the church. The pewswere filled with mourners as Pastor Edward Czarcinski paid homage to Koch, while offering words of comfort to soothe the grief. "Jesus teaches us that aman can have no greater love than to give up his life for his friends,"Czarcinski said. "Steven showed his love by making the ultimate sacrifice." The pastor compared Koch's sacrifice to that of Jesus Christ, saying both gave their lives to help others.He spoke of the soldier's courage and patriotism, citing conversations Koch had with his parents while serving on the front lines in Afghanistan. According to Czarcinski, Koch said he was needed there, and was willing to place himself in harm's way to protect others. "He said he'd bleed on the flag to keep it red. He was a true soldier," Koch's mother Christine, of East Brunswick, told Greater Media Newspapers last week. The dedicated and decorated soldier lost his lifeMarch 3 when a vehicle-borne explosive device detonated, causing a wall to collapse on him in the Sabari district of Afghanistan. Having joined the Army in March 2006, Koch was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2007 andwas scheduled to return home next month. Despite his mother's concerned attempts to discourage her youngest child's desire to serve, Koch had become impassioned about defending America after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to family and friends. Koch's brother William worked in close proximity to theWorld Trade Center at the time of the tragedy, and familymembers were wracked with fear until they were able to reach him that day. Students from Our Lady of Lourdes School, where Koch once attended, were among those taking part in the funeral procession and paying respects to the late soldier. For more photos, visit www.gmnews.com and click on GMN Photo Page. The last timeKoch spokewith his parents was on Feb. 29, three days before his death. He spoke to his wife,Amy, also themother of his 18-month-old daughter, Zoe, the day before he died, according to Amy's aunt, MaryannWhite. White said the couple was planning a move from Spotswood to North Carolina, where Koch was to be stationed inApril. "Our prayers are just with her and the baby,"White said. "She'll have great love and support.His family has been wonderful with that." Czarcinski also prayed for baby Zoe, voicing his hope that the community will extend itself for her just as Koch extended himself for others. "May she always be reminded of her dad's greatness, her dad's sacrifice, and his great love for her now, and his great love for her forever," Czarcinski said. Amy andKoch's sister Lynne brought the sacramental gifts of communion wafers and wine, representing the body and blood of Christ, to the altar. A wash of sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows of the packed church while the two grieving women took part in the communion preparations. As the funeral Mass came to a close, the bagpipers marched into the church to play a rendition of "Amazing Grace." The large crowd filed out of the church after the coffin, many of them tearful as they said their last goodbyes. "He was just such a good person, such a good friend," said Jessica Molina, who attended high school with Koch. Molina recalled visits Koch paid to her at her job during their high school days in East Brunswick,when hewould skateboard in the area. She said Koch stands out in her mind as someone always willing to go out of his way for his friends when they needed him. Another friend, Jesse Ragan, of Spotswood, agreed. "He was definitely there for me a lot of times when no one else was," Ragan said. Family friends who knew Koch as a youngster said his parents were very involved in both the Our Lady of Lourdes church and school, always contributing their time and help. "He grew up with that example," said Marianne Tellone, of Somerville. Tellone's husband, Ralph, recalled the strong bond forged with the Koch family and others in their close-knit group years ago, when their children attended school together. He said they all took part in raising each other's kids. "It was the community, it was one big family," he said. "The whole community was the support group. The support group doesn't go away. It was years ago, but it came right back." The Tellones' son Justin, 23, formed a long-lasting friendship with Koch in their youth. The two served as altar boys and played basketball together, he said. Mark Vitanza served as basketball coach toKoch atOur Lady of Lourdes alongside the boy's father years ago. He remembered Koch's visit to the school about a year ago, when he donned his uniform to spend time talking with students there. According to Ralph Tellone, Koch strove for excellence in the Army. During training exercises in Georgia, he would seek out the largest soldier to go after in order to challenge himself. "He was a soldier's soldier," Tellone said. Koch's ardent commitment to his country earned himnumerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal,ArmyGood ConductMedal,National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan CampaignMedal, GlobalWar on TerrorismService Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Parachutist's Badge. He was to be awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star posthumously, and be given a hero's burial atArlingtonNational Cemetery in Virginia. "It is a loss to the country, not just the family," Marianne Tellone said. "That's why hismother calls himanAmerican treasure." The family has requested that donations be made to the Corporal Steven R. Koch Fund, in care of William Koch Jr., 8 Garden Terrace,Milltown, NJ, 08850.